Support stand for electronic device

1. Technical Field

The exemplary disclosure relates to support stands for supporting electronic devices.

2. Description of Related Art

Support stands are used to support portable electronic devices of many different types and configurations, including but not limited to PDAs, tablet style personal computer (tablet PC), laptop computer, notebook, and personal stereos, can be placed on a desk or other supporting surfaces in an appropriate orientation to make it more comfortable for the users to view the display. However, the supporting angles of typical support stands cannot be adjusted to satisfy some requirements of the users.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

Many aspects of the exemplary support stand for electronic device can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present support stand. Moreover, in the drawings like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a support stand according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 2-5 are schematic views of the support stand of FIG. 1 in different states.

FIGS. 6-8 are schematic views of folding the support stand in different states.

An exemplary embodiment of a support stand 100 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . The support stand 100 includes a first support assembly 10 , a second support assembly 20 spaced from the first support assembly 10 , a first connecting assembly 30 and a second connecting assembly 40 opposite to the first connecting assembly 30 . The first connecting assembly 30 connects between one end of the first support assembly 10 and one end of the second support assembly 20 , the second connecting assembly 40 connects between the other end of the first support assembly 10 and the other end of the second support assembly 20 .

The first support assembly 10 includes two first support mechanism 11 and a first joint 13 hinging the two first support mechanisms 11 together about a first direction X. The two first support mechanisms 11 are substantially mirror images of each other about the first joint 13 . Each first support mechanism 11 includes a main body 14 and a first support rod 15 hinged on the main body 14 . In this exemplary embodiment, the main bodies 14 are hinged to each other by the first joint 13 so the first support mechanism 11 can be folded around the first direction X. Each main body 14 defines a recess 141 for accommodating corresponding first support rod 15 and has a jointing seat 142 formed near an end facing away from the first joint 13 . Each first support rod 15 includes a joining end 151 hinged to corresponding jointing seat 142 by a peg 155 in the first direction X so the first support rods 15 are hinged to the main bodies 14 and can be folded around jointing seats 142 . Each first support rod 15 may further define a compartment 154 ; each first support mechanism 11 further has a lengthening rod 152 (shown in FIG. 4 ) hinged to a corresponding first support rod 15 and accommodated in a corresponding compartment 154 . In this exemplary embodiment, each lengthening rod 152 is hinged to a corresponding joining end 151 by a first shaft 153 (shown in FIG. 4 ) in the first direction X.

The second support assembly 20 includes two second support mechanisms 21 and a second joint 23 . The second joint 23 hinges the second support mechanisms 21 together in the first direction X so the second support mechanisms 21 can be folded around the first direction X. Each second support mechanism 21 includes a second support rod 28 , a connecting block 25 hinged to the second support rod 28 by a pole 29 in a second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X. In addition, a second shaft 27 hinged on the connecting block 25 along the first direction X, a stopping block 26 hinged on the second shaft 27 opposite to the connecting block 25 . Each connecting block 25 can rotate around the corresponding pole 29 about the second direction Y. Each stopping block 26 can rotate around the corresponding second shaft 27 about the first direction X. In this exemplary embodiment, each second support rod 28 defines a slot 24 accommodating the corresponding second shaft 27 , the corresponding connecting block 25 , and the corresponding stopping block 26 .

The first connecting assembly 30 includes two first connecting rods 31 and a third joint 312 . The third joint 312 hinges the first connecting rods 31 together in the second direction Y so the first connecting rods 31 can be folded around the second direction Y. Each first connecting rod 31 defines a first hole 311 therethrough in the second direction Y. The first connecting assembly 30 further includes two third support rods 312 , each of which is hinged in one of the first hole 311 , e.g., by a third shaft 313 located in one corresponding first hole 311 along a third direction Z perpendicular to the first direction X and the second direction Y.

The second connecting assembly 40 may have the same structure as the first connecting assembly 30 . The second connecting assembly 40 includes two second connecting rods 41 and a fourth joint 42 . The fourth joint 42 hinges the second connecting rods 41 together in the second direction Y so the second connecting rods 41 can be folded around the second direction Y. Each second connecting rod 41 defines a second hole 411 therethrough in the second direction Y. The second connecting assembly 40 further includes two fourth support rods 412 , each of which is hinged in one of the second holes 411 , e.g., by a fourth shaft 413 located in one corresponding second hole 411 along the third direction Z.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6 , each first support mechanism 11 is hinged to one of the first connecting assemblies 30 and the second connecting assembly 40 by a fifth joint 50 in the second direction Y. So the first connecting assembly 30 and the second connecting assembly 40 can be folded around the fifth joints 50 after the first support mechanisms 11 are folded around the first joint 13 and the second support rods 28 are folded around the second joint 23 . Each second support rod 28 is hinged to one of the first connecting assemblies 30 and the second connecting assembly 40 by a sixth joint 60 in the second direction Y. So the first connecting assembly 30 and the second connecting assembly 40 can be folded around the sixth joints 60 after the first support mechanisms 11 are folded around the first joint 13 and the second support rods 28 are folded around the second joint 23 .

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3 , a first state of the support stand 100 is illustrated. The first support rods 15 are rotated around the jointing seats 142 relative to corresponding main body 14 , until the first support rods 15 are rotated to a back side of the support stand 100 like shown in FIG. 3 . At this time, the first support rods 15 and the second support rods 28 tilt the first connecting assembly 30 and the second connecting assembly 40 so the support stand 100 can stand on an angle on a support surface by the first support rods 15 and the second support rods 28 . Additionally, the connecting blocks 25 may be rotated around the poles 29 to make the stopping blocks 26 become exposed from the second support rods 28 . In addition, the stopping blocks 26 are rotated around the second shafts 27 to a front side of the support stand 100 opposite to the first support rods 15 , to stop an electronic device located on the support stand 100 from sliding down. Furthermore, the lengthening rods 152 can be rotated around first shafts 153 to lengthen the first support rods 15 , to adjust an angle of the support stand 100 like shown in FIG. 4 . In the first state, the support stand 100 can support an electronic device in landscape orientation.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5 , a second state of the support stand 100 is illustrated. The third support rods 312 are rotated around the third shafts 313 relative to corresponding first connecting rod 31 , until the third support rods 312 are rotated to the back side of the support stand 100 like shown in FIG. 5 . At this time, the third support rods 312 and the second connecting rods 41 tilt the first support assembly 10 and the second support assembly 20 so the support stand 100 can stand at an angle on a support surface by the third support rods 312 and the second connecting rods 41 . Additionally, the fourth support rods 412 may rotate around the fourth shafts 413 until the fourth support rods 412 rotate to the front side of the support stand 100 to stop an electronic device located on the support stand 100 from sliding down. In the second state, the support stand 100 can support electronic device in portrait orientation.

Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8 , a third state for the portability of the support stand 100 is illustrated. The first support mechanisms 11 are folded around the first joint 13 and the second support rods 28 are folded around the second joint 23 until the first connecting assembly 30 and the second connecting assembly 40 are stacked like shown in FIG. 6 . At this time, the third joint 312 and the second joint 23 are co-axial. The first connecting rods 31 are folded around the third joint 312 and the second connecting rods 41 are folded around the fourth joint 42 until the first connecting rods 31 are stacked together and the second connecting rods 41 are stacked together like shown in FIG. 7 . Then, the first support mechanisms 11 are folded around the fifth joints 50 and the second support rods 28 are folded around the sixth joints 60 until the first support assembly 10 , the second support assembly 20 , the first connecting assembly 30 and the second connecting assembly 40 are stacked like shown in FIG. 8 .

In the first and second states, the support stand 100 has varying shapes which are helpful to position the electronic device to slop in different view angles and in different display orientations to satisfy the varying requirements of the users. In the third state, the support stand 100 has a compact size and shape which is easily portable by users when travelling or when it is otherwise not used.

It is to be understood, however, that even through numerous characteristics and advantages of the exemplary disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the system and function of the disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.